David Perlman still going strong

David Perlman, longtime science writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, reports on the move of the Exploratorium museum from the Palace of Fine Arts to its new digs on the Embarcadero.

David Perlman, longtime science writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, reports on the move of the Exploratorium museum from the Palace of Fine Arts to its new digs on the Embarcadero. (Peter DaSilva / For The Times)

David Perlman interviews students at the Exploratorium. He was born in 1918, a decade before the discovery of penicillin. Pluto had yet to be discovered, let alone demoted.

David Perlman interviews students at the Exploratorium. He was born in 1918, a decade before the discovery of penicillin. Pluto had yet to be discovered, let alone demoted. (Peter DaSilva / For The Times)

David Perlman conducts an interview while on assignment at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. The ballpoint pen was invented the year Perlman got his first real newspaper gig, a 1938 summer job covering cops in upstate New York.

David Perlman conducts an interview while on assignment at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. The ballpoint pen was invented the year Perlman got his first real newspaper gig, a 1938 summer job covering cops in upstate New York. (Peter DaSilva / For The Times)

David Perlman scribbles in his notepad. He turned 94 in December, closing out a year in which he wrote 111 stories. Although only 0.2% of America's full-time workers are 80 or older, he has no plans to slow down.

David Perlman scribbles in his notepad. He turned 94 in December, closing out a year in which he wrote 111 stories. Although only 0.2% of America's full-time workers are 80 or older, he has no plans to slow down. (Peter DaSilva / For The Times)

The San Francisco Chronicle's David Perlman churned out 111 stories last year. Not bad for someone born before the discovery of penicillin and Pluto. Read more: Longtime science writer is quite the specimen himself: He's 94Peter DaSilva / For The Times